My Journey in NTU: Lessons in Leadership, Growth, and Community

Discover my personal journey at NTU — from leading an orientation, to completing an internship and even an exchange, to co-founding a company! Learn the key lessons I gained in leadership, teamwork, and personal growth, and advice I’d share with juniors starting their own journey.

Finding Growth in Every Role: My Journey at NTU

When I first stepped into NTU, I knew I din't just want to get through university, I wanted to grow. Not just in academics, but in the way I lead, collaborate, and contribute to the communities I'm part of. Looking back at the past two years, I can confidently say that every decision I made to step into new roles, no matter how challenging, has shaped me into a better version of myself.

Choosing to Lead, Choosing to Serve

One of the most transformative experiences has been my journey with NBS Inflammaré, where I can started out as a freshmen in Forteller clan. I loved the warmth, energy, and friendships that came with the house system, something unique to Nanyang Business School (NBS), and that inspired me to pay it forward. That decision eventually led me to serve as a Chief Group Leader, and in the next year, House Captain.

Leading Inflammaré wasn't easy. It meant navigating policy changes, handling conflicts within the team, and learning to balance results with relationships. But it also gave me the privilege of watching juniors grow into confident leaders, seeing a community thrive, and being part of something that made a real impact on freshmen entering NBS. My biggest takeaway? Leadership is not about being the loudest voice, but the most consistent one. Sometimes, it's about stepping up. Other times, it's about stepping back so others can shine.

Building Beyond Campus

At the same time, I wanted to apply my skills beyond school. That’s why I co-founded ShutterSync Pte Ltd, a company providing photography, post-production, and event production services. Managing business development, handling finance, and organizing events taught me accountability in a different dimension, one where clients rely on you for professionalism and delivery. It made me realize that entrepreneurship is less about “big ideas” and more about consistent execution and relationship-building.

I also had the privilege of interning as a Content Marketing Intern at Delta Electronics International, where I identified gaps in their social media strategy and proposed structured solutions. Beyond content, I supported multiple business groups in trade shows, events, and cross-department coordination. What I learned here is that initiative counts more than title. Being an intern doesn’t mean you’re powerless. If you observe carefully and contribute thoughtfully, your ideas can shape outcomes.

Lessons in Teamwork

Outside of academics and work, I was also involved in NTU Sailing as the Vice-President, which gave me another perspective on leadership. My journey with NTU Sailing was an interesting one. Before I came to NTU, I was already reaching out to NTU Sailing through Instagram DM, hoping to know more about the club. However, there was barely news, and the club did not have regular trainings or programs too. Even after coming into NTU, I did not see much about NTU Sailing. It was only at the end of my first year, I tried to reach out again, that there was a response. I immediately clicked with the President, and I joined the club, with the aim to introduce regular trainings into the club, expanding the committee, and structuring recruitment, which taught me the importance of systems. When things are organized well, people and organizations can perform better.

Advice for Juniors

If I could leave a few words for my juniors entering NTU, it would be these:

• Say yes, then figure it out. Most of the opportunities I’ve had came from daring to take roles I didn’t feel fully ready for. Growth rarely happens in your comfort zone.

• People over process. Whether it’s in a business, club, or project, the people you work with matter most. Nurture relationships, because results will follow.

• Your journey is unique. Don’t compare your path to others. Focus on the skills, values, and stories you want to build for yourself.

• Balance is an art. There will be moments where school, work, and commitments clash. Learn to prioritize, communicate openly, and ask for help when you need it.

Moving Forward

As I move into the next phase of university, I don’t see my journey as a collection of titles or achievements, but as a set of lessons that continue to shape who I am. Every committee I served, every project I worked on, every event I organized, they’ve all left me with one conviction: university is not just a place to study, it’s a place to grow into the person you want to be.

And for me, that growth will always be fueled by curiosity, community, and courage.